Being offended too commonplace

The most common phrase spoken in today’s society seems to be along the lines of, “that offends me.”

Sexual orientation, race, religion, flags — the number of offensive lifestyles, materials, and phrases has reached a point where simply stating something is offensive is offensive.

The dictionary defines offensive as “causing someone to feel hurt, angry, or upset; rude or insulting; very unpleasant.”

Perhaps I’m misunderstanding this simple definition, but how is it possible for one’s sexual orientation to offend someone who doesn’t know said person?

How can the religion I practice and live by offend you if I’m not trying to preach to you or bash you for your differences? How can history be offensive?

The people of today, at least in this country, are so quick to say when they are offended, but also expect the world to be OK with their beliefs, opinions and way of life. I’m thinking there are some hypocritical and backwards people plaguing humanity.

Katie Axtell

Humanity in America is becoming washed with offensive ignorance. The recent issues arising with the Confederate flag and gay marriage are proof. The flag was General Lee’s battle flag. Roger Chapman’s book “Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices” states the flag was never adopted by the government of Confederate states.

Yes, the flag was adopted by the KKK as their symbol, but that doesn’t mean it changes the history and what it represents. I adopted a dog but I’ll always stay human. An adoption of an object doesn’t necessarily change the definition or meaning of such object.

Our country’s history is small, but deep. To embrace it and learn from it, one must know it. Picking and choosing what to believe from an expansive past can only get you so far in the future.

Too many people are quick to take offense at something they know nothing about just because they see and hear myths, rumors and gossip about it. Before deciding if you truly are offended, try learning about that which offends you.

As far as sexual orientation goes, I am still trying to put together how one can be offended by one person loving another. With the ever decreasing amount of love and compassion we are seeing, why not let love shine?

Along with allowing more love to be expressed, thousands of children are being given homes they need by gay couples.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute shows an astounding number of children worldwide without families.

“There are 17,900,000 orphans who have lost both parents and are living in orphanages or on the streets, and lack the care and attention required for healthy development.”

According to Lifelong Adoptions, the number of children being adopted by gay couples is increasing.

“As reported on the 2000 Census, about 65,000 children lived with same-sex parents. In 2012, 110,000 live with gay parents.”

Children are finding homes and hearts are being filled. I fail to see how that is bad. The right for people to marry who they love was passed. And the world needs a little more love.

Instead of paying so much attention to other people’s lives and searching for things to be offended by, let’s work more toward helping heal the world and the poverty, hunger and wars that are decimating the supply of compassion.